Process of converting hair into fertilizers



.the material operated upon.

- UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONAS J. SELDNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PROCESS OF CONVERTING HAIR INTO FERTILIZERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 514,042, dated February6, 1894. Application filed May 20, 1893. Serialll'o. 474,913. (Nospecimens.)

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONAS J. SELDNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Methodsof Treating Animal-Hair and LikeNitrogenous Substances, of which the followinglis a specification.

My invention relates to a method of reducing animals hair, fur and woolto a powdered condition.

The object of the invention is to convert the nitrogenous substancesnamed into dry ammoniate, thus making thesame available as an ingredientfor use in the manufacture of commercial fertilizers.

In carrying out my invention I take the hair, or similar substance,whatever it may be, and place it in a suitable tank having aclose-fitting cover ;-it is preferable, though not necessary, that thetank be exteriorly jacketed in order to apply steam heat. To the hairisadded a weak solution of acid, preferably sulphuric acid. The hair ofsome animals requires an acid of greater strength than others; thereforethe strength of the acid, to be used must be tempered by the addition ofmore or less water to suit the particular material under treatment.

In practice I have found that the relative proportions of acid and waterbest adapted for the purpose vary from one part acid in four partswater, to one part acid in ten of water according to the conditionsunder which the process is carried out and the nature of That is to say,if the particular lot of hair operated upon is tanners offal, it will befound to contain lime and in consequence of the presence of thisalkaline matter a larger proportion of acid will be required; but ifthelot of hair to be treated is free of alkaline matter, as is the casewith hair from a furrier, then less acid will suffice. The cover of thetank is then sealed to make the same steam-tight, and heat is appliedfor the required time, which will vary, according to the material undertreatment, from two to five hours. The heat must be of sufficientintensity to raise the temperature of the acidsolution so that the waterof the solution will be vaporized and pressure be produced in the closedvessel; the acid will at the same time be raised to a temperature atwhich it will attack the hair. the sealed tank is -one of from twenty tosixty pounds. By this treatment the hair is acted uponby the combinedinfluence of the steam under pressure, and the heated acid, and by theaction of the two, is completely disintegrated and brought to thecondition of a pulp-- like mass entirely lacking the distinguishingfeatures of hair.

After the treatment above described, there is added to the mass asufficient quantity'of alkaline matter, such as lime, caustic soda,potash, phosphate-rock or bone, to take up the excess of free acid leftin the mass. The

mass is then dried in any suitable way,which leaves it in a powdered orlump state. If the latter, the lumps are crushed and ground, thus makinga product of dry ammoniate.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The method of reducing animal hair,and such likenitrogenous substances, to dry ammoniate in a powdered condition,consisting in mixing the hair or other substance with a weak solution ofmineral acid, inclosing both in a steam-tight vessel, then applyingsufficient heat to vaporize the water of the acidsolution and produce apressure in the sealed vessel and heat the acid to a temperature atwhich it willdisintegrate the hair; then adding sufiicient pulverizedalkaline matter to neutralize the free acid; and then drying the mass,as set forth.

In testimony whereof I ElffiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JONAS J. SELDNER.

Witnesses:

CnAs. B. MANN, J r., ALVAN MAOAULEY.

A good working pressure in 7

